Social cohesion is not a product but an evolving process – Dr Norton
The Social Cohesion Ministry, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, hosted a “Face the Community” meeting at the Cotton Field Secondary School, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) last week.
Residents, parents, teachers and students of the Region gathered to highlight their concerns and were also briefed on social cohesion and what it entailed.
Among the issues highlighted were: the need for counsellors in schools, the re-introduction of the community high programme, better visibility of school welfare officers, the need for security drills to be done in schools and construction work
Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton addressing the residents of Charity who gathered for the public meeting
being done during school hours.
This was the first “Face the Community” meeting for the recently-appointed Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, who assured the residents that he would make representation for them by bringing their issues to the attention of Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.
He encouraged the stakeholders to hold their regional officials accountable, but to also engage in self-help when necessary.
“As parents and teachers, we have got to do more than just wait for the Region to do something, the money to pass or for budget allocations to be made. We have got to start helping ourselves. These are things that can be solved in the community,” he highlighted.
Minister Norton also used the opportunity to encourage the parents and teachers gathered to play a greater role in the lives of youths.
“I want the adults in the population to look at the situation surrounding them. We
Some of the persons who gathered for the public meeting in Charity
want changes in the youth, the way they behave and their approach to situations. The problem lies in the man in the mirror and when we recognise that problem, we will change course and move towards putting in a little extra work to get our students to achieve what we set them out to achieve,” he stressed.
He posited that adults have been abandoning youths and there was nothing that could be done in society if they did not use the youths’ strength.
Minister Norton also acknowledged the hard work of teachers, who he said carried the heaviest load.
“I want to publicly congratulate my fellow Guyanese here who have opted not to become the physician, engineer, or the nurse but have decided that they want to be a teacher and I take my hat off to you teachers here among us,” he said.
Golden rule
Dr Norton then turned his attention to the process of social cohesion and encouraged those gathered to live by the golden rule of doing unto others as they would wish to be done unto them.
“If we should obey that rule, if we should live by that rule, then we certainly would achieve social cohesion in our society,” he added.
He pointed out that social cohesion was not a product but a process, which would evolve over the years.
Meanwhile, the Social Cohesion Minister also met with residents of Charity, including teachers, business owners and members of the Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to discuss issues affecting that community.
Among the concerns of the residents were truancy, school dropouts, the need for a multi-purpose centre, easy accessibility of drugs, training for small business owners, flooding in the squatting area and repairs to the river dam.
Minister Norton told the residents that the solution to most of the problems lay right in the community. However, he acknowledged that there were some issues which the residents themselves could not solve.
“Let us do what we have to do, and if you cannot do it alone, because you may lack the necessary skills, go through the right channels,” he stressed.He told the residents that when there was an issue facing the community, they needed to reach out to their regional officials, and if that proved futile, they must seek to raise the issue with those higher in authority.
Dr Norton assured that he would bring their issues to the attention of the relevant ministers within the government, and would also encourage them to visit the Region to meet with the residents.
The Social Cohesion Minister urged each of the residents to play their role in the development of their country.
“I believe that because we come from different backgrounds, whether it’s geographical, ethnic, religious or cultural, we need everyone on board. We need to know who we are and what our role is in developing Guyana,” he explained. Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson encouraged the residents of Charity to bring the issues they face to his attention.
“While the REO must accept responsibility and be accountable, the REO can do very little if he does not know. And so I urge you to let us know when these things are happening,” he stated.He urged the residents to continue being dedicated and concerned about the issues affecting their community.
